Window shade mount

ABSTRACT

A system for mounting a window dressing may include an elongate backing member, an elongate mounting member, and an elongate outer member. The elongate mounting member may be adapted to mount to a vertical surface and adjustably secure to a plurality of locations on a back surface of the elongate backing member. The elongate outer member may be secured to the elongate backing member.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to systems and methods for curtain or drapery rod mounting arrangements.

BACKGROUND

It is frequently necessary to mount curtain, blind, or drapery rods to vertical surfaces. Different manufacturers of window coverings may require the rods to be mounted at different heights and with different clearances from the vertical surface. A need exists for a system providing an adjustable, versatile mounting arrangement.

This background information is provided to reveal information believed by the applicant to be of possible relevance to the present invention. No admission is necessarily intended, nor should be construed, that any of the preceding information constitutes prior art against the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

With the above in mind, embodiments of the present invention are related to a system for mounting a window dressing. The system may include an elongate backing member, an elongate mounting member, and an elongate outer member. The elongate mounting member may be adapted to mount to a vertical surface and adjustably secure to a plurality of locations on a back surface of the elongate backing member. The elongate outer member may be secured to the elongate backing member.

The elongate backing member may have a length equal to a length of the elongate mounting member. The elongate backing member may also have a top beveled side, a bottom beveled side, and a front surface with a height less than a height of the back surface.

The elongate backing member may have a back top beveled edge, a front top beveled edge, a back bottom beveled edge, and a front bottom beveled edge all contacting an interior surface of the elongate outer member. The elongate outer member may be positioned to receive the entirety of the elongate backing member within an interior volume defined by the elongate outer member, and may have an arcuate cross-section or a semicircular cross-section.

The system may also include a nail countersunk in the elongate outer member and adapted to secure the elongate outer member to the elongate backing member. A top surface of the elongate mounting member may perpendicularly abut the back surface of the elongate backing member.

The elongate mounting member may be composed of a homogenous material. Similarly, the elongate backing member may be composed of a homogenous material.

The system may also include ornamental indicia located on an exterior surface of the elongate outer member. The ornamental indicia may include a layer of silicon adhered to a layer of fabric. A front surface of the elongate mounting member may be adapted to be removed to adjust the depth of the elongate mounting member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental view of a system for mounting a window dressing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of an elongate mounting member of the system for mounting a window dressing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the elongate mounting member of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the elongate mounting member of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of an elongate backing member of the system for mounting a window dressing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a back elevation view of the elongate backing member of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the elongate backing member of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of the elongate backing member of FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is a front elevation view of an elongate outer member of the system for mounting a window dressing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the elongate outer member of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a side elevation view of the elongate outer member of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a side view of the system for mounting a window dressing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Those of ordinary skill in the art realize that the following descriptions of the embodiments of the present invention are illustrative and are not intended to be limiting in any way. Other embodiments of the present invention will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons having the benefit of this disclosure. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

Although the following detailed description contains many specifics for the purposes of illustration, anyone of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that many variations and alterations to the following details are within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following embodiments of the invention are set forth without any loss of generality to, and without imposing limitations upon, the claimed invention.

In this detailed description of the present invention, a person skilled in the art should note that directional terms, such as “above,” “below,” “upper,” “lower,” and other like terms are used for the convenience of the reader in reference to the drawings. Also, a person skilled in the art should notice this description may contain other terminology to convey position, orientation, and direction without departing from the principles of the present invention.

Furthermore, in this detailed description, a person skilled in the art should note that quantitative qualifying terms such as “generally,” “substantially.” “mostly,” and other terms are used, in general, to mean that the referred to object, characteristic, or quality constitutes a majority of the subject of the reference. The meaning of any of these terms is dependent upon the context within which it is used, and the meaning may be expressly modified.

An embodiment of the invention, as shown and described by the various figures and accompanying text, provides a system 100 for mounting a window dressing. As depicted in FIG. 1, the system 100 may be mounted to a vertical surface 103, such as, by way of example, and not as a limitation, an interior or exterior wall of a building. The system 100 may be mounted over a window or other opening in the vertical surface 103. A window dressing, such as, by way of example, and not as a limitation, curtains, blinds, or the like, may be mounted to the system 100.

The system 100 for mounting a window dressing may include an elongate mounting member 102. As shown in FIGS. 2-4, the elongate mounting member 102 may be a rectangular prism and may have a front surface 119. The elongate mounting member 102 may be composed of a homogenous material, such as, by way of example, and not as a limitation, wood, plastic, or the like. Any surface of the elongate mounting member 102 may be modified to decrease the width, height, or length of the elongate mounting member 102.

In one embodiment, the elongate mounting member 102 may be composed of wood and the front surface 119 of the elongate mounting member 102 may be removed in layers to adjust the width of the elongate mounting member 102. In such an embodiment, by way of example, and not as a limitation, each surface of the elongate mounting member 102 may be planed, or removed, by a saw or the like. Similarly, in one embodiment, the top or bottom surface of the elongate mounting member 102 may be removed in layers to adjust the height of the elongate mounting member 102.

The front surface 119 may be a substantially flat surface extending an entirety of the length of the elongate mounting member 102. The length of the elongate mounting member 102 may be greater than the height or width of the elongate mounting member 102. The front surface 119 may extend across an entirety of the height of the elongate mounting member 102. A top surface 115 of the elongate mounting member 102 may be substantially flat and extend along an entirety of the length of the elongate mounting member 102. The top surface 115 may extend across an entirety of the width of the elongate mounting member 102. The width of the elongate mounting member 102 may be greater than its height.

The system for mounting a window dressing 100 may include an elongate backing member 101. As shown in FIGS. 5-7, the elongate backing member 101 may be a rectangular prism and may have a front surface 108. The elongate backing member 101 may be composed of a homogenous material, such as, by way of example, and not as a limitation, wood, plastic, or the like. Any surface of the elongate backing member 101 may be modified to decrease the width, height, or length of the elongate backing member 101.

Similarly to the elongate mounting member 102, any surface of the elongate backing member 101 may be planed, or removed, to reduce the dimension of the elongate backing member 101. The front surface 108 may be a substantially flat surface extending an entirety of the length of the elongate backing member 101. The length of the elongate backing member 101 may be greater than the height or width of the elongate backing member 101. The front surface 108 may extend across an entirety of a first height of the elongate backing member 101. The back surface 104 may be a substantially flat surface opposing the front surface 108 and extending an entirety of the length of the elongate backing member 101. The back surface 104 may extend across an entirety of a second height of the elongate backing member 101. The second height may be greater than the first height of the elongate backing member 101.

A top beveled side 106 of the elongate backing member 101 may be substantially flat and extend along an entirety of the length of the elongate backing member 101. The top beveled side 106 may extend across an entirety of the width of the elongate backing member 101 between the front surface 108 and the back surface 104. The width of the elongate backing member 101 may be greater than its height. A bottom beveled side 107 of the elongate backing member 101 may oppose the top beveled side 106, be substantially flat, and extend along an entirety of the length of the elongate backing member 101. The bottom beveled side 107 may extend across an entirety of the width of the elongate backing member 101 between the front surface 108 and the back surface 104.

The back surface 104 may meet the top beveled side 106 at a back top beveled edge 109 extending an entirety of the length of the elongate backing member 101. The back surface 104 may meet the bottom beveled side 107 at a back bottom beveled edge 111 extending an entirety of the length of the elongate backing member 101. The front surface 108 may meet the top beveled side 106 at a front top beveled edge 110 extending an entirety of the length of the elongate backing member 101. The front surface 108 may meet the bottom beveled side 107 at a front bottom beveled edge 112 extending an entirety of the length of the elongate backing member 101.

The elongate mounting member 102 may be adapted to mount to the vertical surface 103. A back surface, opposing the front surface 119, of the elongate mounting member 102 may directly contact the vertical surface 103 along an entirety of the length of the elongate mounting member 102. The elongate mounting member 102 may be fixedly secured directly to the vertical surface 103 using, by way of example, and not as a limitation, screws, nails, or the like.

The front surface 119 of the elongate mounting member 102 may directly contact the back surface of the elongate backing member 101 and secure thereto. The top surface 119 of the elongate mounting member 102 may perpendicularly abut the back surface 104 of the elongate backing member 101. The length of the elongate mounting member 102 may be substantially equal to the length of the elongate backing member 101 and the two may be in direct contact with each other along an entirety of their respective lengths.

The elongate mounting member 102 may be adapted to secure directly to a back surface 104 of the elongate backing member 101 at a plurality of locations. The connection locations may not be predetermined, which may allow the elongate mounting member 102 to secure to the elongate backing member 101 at any position along a back surface of the elongate backing member 101. The connection between the elongate backing member 101 and the elongate mounting member 102 may be adjusted to allow the elongate mounting member 102 to secure to the elongate backing member 101 at any height on the back surface 104 of the elongate backing member 101 provided the front surface 119 of the elongate mounting member 102 is essentially between the back top beveled edge 109 and the back bottom beveled edge 111.

The system 100 may include an elongate outer member 105 secured directly to the elongate backing member 101. The elongate outer member 105 may have a length substantially equal to the length of the elongate backing member 101 and the elongate mounting member 102. The elongate outer member 105 may be an elongate member with an arcuate cross-section. In one embodiment, the elongate outer member 105 may have a semicircular cross-section. The elongate outer member 105 may be formed by bisecting a hollow tube, such as, by way of example, and not as a limitation, a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe. The elongate outer member 105 may be positioned over the elongate backing member 101 with the front surface 108 of the elongate backing member 101 facing an interior surface of the elongate outer member 105. The back top beveled edge 109, front top beveled edge 110, back bottom beveled edge 111, and front bottom beveled edge 112 may contact the interior surface of the elongate outer member 105. The elongate outer member 105 may secure to the elongate backing member 101 with a friction fit. The elongate backing member 101 may be positioned within an interior volume defined by the arcuate shape of the elongate outer member 105.

In one embodiment, at least one nail 114 may be used to secure the elongate backing member 101 to the elongate outer member 105. The at least one nail 114 may be a screw or other fastening device known in the art. In such an embodiment, the at least one nail 114 may be countersunk below the exterior surface of the elongate backing member 101.

Ornamental indicia 116 may be located on an exterior surface, opposing the interior surface, of the elongate outer member 105. The ornamental indicia 116 may be a layer of silicone with a first side adhered to the exterior surface of the elongate outer member 105 and a second side adhered to a layer of fabric.

Some of the illustrative aspects of the present invention may be advantageous in solving the problems herein described and other problems not discussed which are discoverable by a skilled artisan.

While the above description contains much specificity, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any embodiment, but as exemplifications of the presented embodiments thereof. Many other ramifications and variations are possible within the teachings of the various embodiments. While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best or only mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. Also, in the drawings and the description, there have been disclosed exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention therefore not being so limited. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc. do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.

Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, and not by the examples given. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A system for mounting a window dressing comprising: an elongate backing member; an elongate mounting member adapted to mount to a vertical surface and adjustably secure to a plurality of locations on a back surface of the elongate backing member; and an elongate outer member secured to the elongate backing member.
 2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the elongate backing member has a length equal to a length of the elongate mounting member.
 3. The system according to claim 1 wherein the elongate backing member has a top beveled side, a bottom beveled side, and a front surface with a height less than a height of the back surface.
 4. The system according to claim 3 wherein the elongate backing member has a back top beveled edge, a front top beveled edge, a back bottom beveled edge, and a front bottom beveled edge contact an interior surface of the elongate outer member.
 5. The system according to claim 1 wherein the elongate outer member is positioned to receive the entirety of the elongate backing member within an interior volume defined by the elongate outer member.
 6. The system according to claim 1 wherein the elongate outer member has an arcuate cross-section.
 7. The system according to claim 1 wherein the elongate outer member has a semicircular cross-section.
 8. The system according to claim 1 further comprising: at least one nail countersunk in the elongate outer member and adapted to secure the elongate outer member to the elongate backing member.
 9. The system according to claim 1 wherein a top surface of the elongate mounting member perpendicularly abuts the back surface of the elongate backing member.
 10. The system according to claim 1 wherein the elongate mounting member is composed of a homogenous material.
 11. The system according to claim 1 wherein the elongate backing member is composed of a homogenous material.
 12. The system according to claim 1 further comprising: ornamental indicia located on an exterior surface of the elongate outer member.
 13. The system according to claim 1 wherein the ornamental indicia comprises a layer of silicon adhered to a layer of fabric.
 14. The system according to claim 1 wherein a front surface of the elongate mounting member is adapted to be removed to adjust the depth of the elongate mounting member.
 15. A system for mounting a window dressing comprising: an elongate backing member having a top beveled side, a bottom beveled side, and a front surface with a height less khan a height of a back surface; an elongate mounting member adapted to mount to a vertical surface and adjustably secure to a plurality of locations on a back surface of the elongate backing member with a top surface of the elongate mounting member perpendicularly abutting the back surface of the elongate backing member; and an elongate outer member, having an arcuate cross-section and ornamental indicia located on an exterior surface, secured to the backing member, positioned to receive the entirety of the elongate backing member within an interior volume, and to contact a back top beveled edge, a front top beveled edge, a back bottom beveled edge, and a front bottom beveled edge of the elongate backing member.
 16. The system according to claim 15 wherein the elongate backing member has a length equal to a length of the elongate mounting member.
 17. The system according to claim 15 wherein the elongate outer member has a semicircular cross-section.
 18. The system according to claim 15 wherein the ornamental indicia comprises: a layer of silicon adhered to a layer of fabric and secured to the elongate outer member by an adhesive.
 19. The system according to claim 15 wherein the elongate backing member is composed of a first homogenous material and the elongate mounting member is composed of a second homogenous material.
 20. A system for mounting a window dressing comprising: an elongate backing member composed of a first homogenous material, having a top beveled side, a bottom beveled side, a front surface with a height less than a height of a back surface, and a length; an elongate mounting member composed of a second homogenous material, having a length equal to the length of the elongate backing member, adapted to mount to a vertical surface and adjustably secure to a plurality of locations on a back surface of the elongate backing member with a top surface of the elongate mounting member perpendicularly abutting the back surface of the elongate backing member; an elongate outer member, having an semicircular cross-section, secured to the backing member, positioned to receive the entirety of the elongate backing member within an interior volume and to contact a back top beveled edge, a front top beveled edge, a back bottom beveled edge, and a front bottom beveled edge of the elongate backing member, and having ornamental indicia located on an exterior surface, wherein the ornamental indicia comprises: a layer of silicon adhered to a layer of fabric and secured to the elongate outer member by an adhesive; and at least one nail countersunk in the elongate outer member to secure the elongate outer member to the elongate backing member. 